Stroud Maternity Hospital

Stroud Maternity is a stand-alone birth unit, affiliated to the Women’s Service in Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The unit has two birth suites, each with its own birthing pool, kitchenette area and en-suite bath/shower room, plus three en-suite side rooms in a family-friendly environment. Birth partners are encouraged to stay from birth until discharge home.

The beautiful conservatory/day room is available for watching television or entertaining visitors, for parent education and visiting speakers, and for staff meetings.

Midwives and Maternity Care Assistants work together as a core team to provide a 24-hour service in Stroud Maternity. The Community Midwives in the Stroud locality work in conjunction with the core team providing a 24-hour on-call service. They also cover shifts in the Maternity when required. Cirencester Community Midwives have recently joined the hub in Stroud. It is hoped that women living in the Cirencester area will be encouraged to follow their Community Midwives and consider birthing in Stroud. Women or babies who need extra help are transferred by ambulance to The Woman’s Centre in Gloucester.

The support of the local community has never wavered throughout the last 60 years, and it is as strong today as it ever was. When the birthing suites are used to their full potential it is hoped that the number of women birthing in Stroud will increase to 500 per year. Is this too ambitious? We don’t think so!